Town centres, high streets and regeneration areas

Waltham Forest has unique and historic town centres and high streets, which remain vibrant, adaptable and exciting despite the challenges of Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis that residents and businesses have faced over recent years. 

Our town centres have a unique set of opportunities and issues, and through local engagement we have a strong understanding of the priorities and ambitions of our local communities, business and other partners and stakeholders. 

We are determined to continue working closely in partnership with our residents, businesses and partners to ensure that our town centres offer a range of services and public spaces that are attractive, inclusive and accessible for all.   

We want to boost the evening economy in our town centres so that there is a range of shopping and leisure services available to keep our high streets busier in the evening that people of all ages, gender, disabilities and interests enjoy visiting. 

We are working in partnership with Waltham Forest Metropolitan Police teams to create more welcoming and safer town centres. The Safe Streets programme takes a resident-focused approach toward tackling the problems that really matter to local people on a day-to-day basis including graffiti, fly-tipping, and street drinking. 

We are tackling climate change and becoming a net zero borough by 2030, with our Climate Action Plan making Waltham Forest a greener, more sustainable borough, by introducing tree planting, more biodiversity, soft landscaping, sustainable urban drainage (SUDs) to reduce flooding and recycling materials whenever possible in our regeneration projects. 

Based on several rounds of engagement with local residents and businesses, we have developed Area Frameworks which is guidance for where investment should go, in the borough.

The Town Centre Framework sets out how we plan to work in partnership with local businesses, community groups, residents and public sector organisations to unlock social, environmental and economic benefits in our five key town centres to make them even better places to live and work. 

We have created delivery plans linked to key action areas which describe the steps we propose to take to address the challenges and opportunities each town centre faces. 

The Town Centre Framework focuses on our five main town centres: 

• Walthamstow (including St James Street and Wood Street) 
• Leytonstone (including South Leytonstone) 
• Leyton (including Bakers Arms) 
• Chingford Mount (including Highams Park) 
• North Chingford 

Our work in our other smaller town centres, high streets and local shopping parades like Markhouse Corner will also continue. 

The Town Centre Framework focuses on the four main Action Areas below, which will guide our activities and investment in town centres: 

1. Area-based approach to community safety : working with partners like the police, communities and businesses to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour
2. Maximising the benefits of town centre partnerships: working collaboratively with our businesses, residents and key stakeholders to benefit each town centre
3. Supporting town centre business resilience and inclusive growth: helping to strengthen the local economy by supporting businesses and market traders   
4. Making effective use of public assets: ensuring that investment in public buildings  provide the facilities and services that  residents need